Message of 7-6-07
Published: Fri, 07/06/07
MESSAGE OF THE DAY
If there be anything that is capable of setting the soul in a large place it is absolute abandonment to God. It diffuses in the soul a peace that flows like a river and the righteousness which is as the waves of the sea.
- Francois Fenelon
(Let go into God. Try letting go of everything else for just a short while, letting your only thought and intent be unto God. See how this influences your attitude the rest of the day.)
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SCRIPTURE READINGS
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67; Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5; Mt 9:9-13
R.
(1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
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Praying the Daily Gospels
- by Philip St. Romain:
- http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6614
- Matthew 9:9-13 (The call of Matthew)
Matthew never forgot that Jesus had called him out of his position of disrepute and oppression. Whenever he mentions himself, Matthew quickly adds that he was once a tax collector. So, too, do we need to recall how the Lord has lifted us up and helped us grow.
• When we
remember, we are remembered” is a pious saying. Do you take
enough time to recall your roots? Resolve to call a friend or family
member today as a way to help you appreciate your past. Browse through
an old photo album during the week.
• Are you a self-righteous person? How is this manifested in your life?
• Pray for the grace to recognize grace in your life.
• Are you a self-righteous person? How is this manifested in your life?
• Pray for the grace to recognize grace in your life.
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- Anyone want a gmail address?
I have numerous invitations I can send out. This would give you a permanent lifetime POP email and webmail address.
See http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about.html for more info, and, if interested, send me an email with your request and I'll invite you. Google will send instructions on what to do after that.
- mailto:phil@shalomplace.com
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ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE
- by Jean Pierre de Caussade, S.J.
All you who strive after perfection and who are tempted to
discouragement at the remembrance of what you have read in the lives of the
saints, and of what certain pious books prescribe; O you who are appalled by
the terrible ideas of perfection that you have formed for yourselves; it is
for your consolation that God has willed me to write this. Learn that of
which you seem to be ignorant. This God of all goodness has made those
things easy which are common and necessary in the order of nature, such as
breathing, eating, and sleeping. No less necessary in the supernatural order
are love and fidelity, therefore it must needs be that the difficulty of
acquiring them is by no means so great as is generally represented. Review
your life. Is it not composed of innumerable actions of very little
importance? Well, God is quite satisfied with these. They are the share that
the soul must take in the work of its perfection. This is so clearly
explained in Holy Scripture that there can be no doubt about it: "Fear God
and keep the commandments, this is the whole duty of man‚" (Ecclesiastes xii,
13), that is to say—this is all that is required on the part of man, and it
is in this that active fidelity consists. If man fulfils his part God will
do the rest.
-- Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 3
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PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE (Contemplative Method)
- adapted by Philip St. Romain from a variety of sources -
A. Select a short passage that you will use for prayer.
B. Settle in by sitting straight (on tailbone, spine erect). Notice sensations in your body, sounds around you, the manner of your breathing. Call to mind that God is present in and amidst all of this.
C. Read the passage aloud slowly, prayerfully. Let the words make their own impact, and voice whatever they awaken in your mind and heart to God.
- proceed to Step E if you already feel yourself coming to contemplative silence -
D. Read the passage a second time silently. Again, voice whatever is awakened to God, or acknowledge before God in your heart. Let this be a spontaneous conversation which includes your questions, intellectual reflections, petitions, resolutions, and so forth.
E. Read the passage a third time. If there is a word or phrase that sums up this passage, or that speaks to you in a special way, repeat it in your mind prayerfully. Let it express your willingness to allow God to be God in your life.
F. Allow yourself to simply be present to God in loving silence, aware of God's unfailing Presence to you in love. When distractions come which capture your attention, re-introduce the sacred word from Step E. Continue with this resting until your prayer time is over.
G. Close your prayer time with a sincere vocal recitation of the Lord's prayer, putting your whole being into the words.
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